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“I don’t want to go.”
“Says the sick person. You know, I’ve often wondered how sickness affects decision making.”
Maggie ignored him. “Will you also make me chicken soup and hot herbal tea? My tummy hurts.”
“Yes, ma’am. If you want me to, I can make you some tea now.” Levi knew where the kitchen was. He had been here numerous times in the last three years.
He felt at home in Maggie’s house, which she shared with her brother. The Jacobs family had bought the house together—with some inheritance money after their great-grandpa passed away—so that when Malachi and their parents came home on furlough, they could stay here. There were four bedrooms in all.
Levi had met Malachi, but not his parents.
“I have cans of chicken soup in the pantry,” Maggie said.
“If you want me to cook chicken soup for you, I can do it from scratch.” Levi glanced in the direction where he could usually see a clock on the wall, but now there was a stack of boxes in the way.
He wanted to ask about the boxes, but this didn’t seem to be the right time.
He checked the phone in his pocket. It was almost three in the morning. Yikes.
“So you’re going to cook for me?” Maggie chuckled. “You’re like a fill-in older brother. Malachi also cooks chicken soup from scratch. He makes the stock first. It takes forever to have just one bowl.”
Older brother?
Up until the day before, Levi hadn’t thought much about his relationship with Maggie, but after being worried about her last evening, he wondered if there was something more between them.
They had known each other for only three years, but he felt that he was closer to her than her brother was. They talked about challenges at work and in the ministry a lot. They spent a lot of time together. Ate out together. Attended church activities together.
No way they were only best friends.
The only thing he hadn’t done was to…kiss her.
“Thank you for the meds and Gatorade.” Maggie’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“No problem. I suggest you rest at home in the morning and livestream the church service.”
Maggie nodded.
“I’ll fill out the sermon notes and email you.”
More nods.
“You can go now, Levi. What would people at church say if they find out you slept here at my house?”
“Frankly, I don’t care. God knows there’s nothing going on between us.”
“Still, we have no witnesses, just you and me.”
“We’re best friends.”
“Even more so.”
Levi sighed. “All right, before I go, I’ll find your phone so you can have it near you in case you need to make an emergency call.”
Even as he said that, Levi felt reluctant to leave. What if something happened to Maggie between now and the time he returned after church?
Aunt Marie had always said that instead of worrying needlessly, he should pray. “Let’s pray before I go.”
Maggie closed her eyes.
